Buying Southern New Hampshire Real Estate: Money, Mortgages and Closing Costs

Because buying Southern New Hampshire real estate is one of the most important and expensive purchases you’ll ever make, it's worth the time to consider ways you can save money.  Here are a few ideas on how to save money on your mortgage and closing costs:
  
Pay Attention
You have to pay attention to how much the Southern New Hampshire real estate costs. You have to pay attention to how much the house is worth and how much more you may have to put in the kitty for any repairs that will need to be done. Use these details to negotiate.
  
Negotiate with the Seller
Negotiating with the seller is expected.  You already know you can negotiate on the price of the home, but did you know you can also negotiate who pays the closing costs?  In this buyer's market, it has become common to ask the seller to pay some or all of the closing costs when you purchase a home. Be careful with your negotiations.  Many sellers will up the price of the home if you ask for them to pay closing costs.
  
Negotiate with your Lender
Negotiating with your lender has become the new norm.  In fact, depending on the lender’s Good Faith Estimate and your credit standing, negotiating for a better deal on your mortgage could save you thousands in the long run.
  
Examine the Good Faith Estimate
A Good Faith Estimate is the estimated settlement costs, or closing costs, your lender will expect you to pay. These can add up to as little as 3% and as much as 5% of the sales price. However, as the name implies, it is only an estimate, and prices are subject to change.  (There are new regulations this year about which costs are allowed to change and by how much, so check out the 2010 HUD Booklet, which also has some general homebuying advice.)
  
Carefully read your Good Faith Estimate. While some closing costs are usual, such as title insurance, others can be dropped by opting out of a service. Still others are “junk fees,” which you can negotiate for.
  
When buying Southern New Hampshire real estate, you always want the best deal you can get. The same should be said when picking a mortgage lender. Pay attention to the good faith estimate.  In fact, get one from several lenders and compare them. Don’t let the excitement of buying a home override your good business sense.
  
Consider Rolling Closing Costs into your Loan
Many new homeowners roll their closing costs into the loan. However, if there’s a way to pay them at closing, it might be better to do so. Paying them now saves you money because spreading them throughout the life of the loan means shelling out more interest.
  

If you’re looking for a great deal on an even better home, let me negotiate for you.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more info.